Sol of Luna: Near and Far

Author: Gakusangi

Author's Notes and Acknowledgements:
RECAP – In the last installment, we got a little insight into the royal family, as the fourth Emperor made a pact with a death god, though the nature of that pact is as yet unknown. Mikami assembled a command team to aid him in his search for the missing Prince, among them is his ago old enemy from the Clan Wars, Light Yagami, former leader of the Akabannin (Scarlet Guard). However, the Emperor has assigned another member to the team, the Imperial High Summoner, Kiyomi Takada. Meanwile, Mello and Near, who is deathly ill, are ambushed by a Vile on the trade road, and captured. Mello recalls the time he received the cursed sword, Muramasa from his mentor, and savior, L. Later Mello awakens to find him and Near in the clutches of the Vile. Thanks to Near, Mello is able to get his sword and slay the daemon, before she can kill either of them.

This is a Death Note fan fiction. Many of the characters presented here are not mine, but the legal property of writer Tsugumi Ohba, and artist Takeshi Obata.

Chapter 05: An Emperor's Boon

Mello was blind in the darkness of the cavern. He could still hear the water boiling nearby, and felt the damp heat rise in the chamber. It was like a sauna. Despite the hot, wet of the cave, Mello felt cold panic begin to grip his insides. They had no idea where they were, how far underground the cavern was, or where any of the exits were. He was fixing to positively burst from fear, when suddenly something calmed him. A small, soft hand, still slightly clammy with fever, gently took his.

"Near?" Mello breathed.

There was no response. That meant it was definitely Near. Mello closed his fingers firmly about Near's hand, and allowed himself to be led blindly. Strangely, he wasn't afraid. He didn't question Near, knowing somehow that the boy knew where they were going. Though he could not guess why had knew such things. If he could have seen from Near's perspective, he would have been amazed. In the darkness of the cavern, Near saw every detail with perfect clarity, as though it were bright as day in the underground chamber. Not that Near had seen many bright days.

Mello could sense as they began a steady climb upward. The air began to change, the heat from the boiling body of water thinning, and the air freshening. A cool breeze passed over the two boys, and Mello knew then that they were almost out. Then he spotted the light. It was distant, but there. It was an exit to open world, the surface world. Mello cut ahead pulling Near along with him, though he was gentle with the smaller boy, considering his current health. They emerge in the open air once more. It was late, the moon hung in the sky, the stars glistening in the darkness. They were back in a dense wooded area again. Mello moaned in frustration. They were lost again, possibly miles from where they needed to be. But then an encouraging thought occurred to him. If they had been taken far, then their pursuers may well have lost their trail.

Mello felt Near's grip loosen, and turned in time to notice that the white haired boy's legs were about to give out. He caught the small boy in his arms.

"Near!" Mello called.

Near looked up at blonde who held him in his arms. Near's eyes were painful to look into at the moment, clouded with sickness, and red with fever. His small body was hot against Mello's chest. In the darkness, Mello couldn't see the light shade of pink that Near's face had turned as he looked up into blonde boy's bluer than blue eyes. Then Near's eyes drew shut, and he lost consciousness.

"Great!" Mello snapped.

--

It had been one day since Light Yagami's release from the Imperial dungeons. He still couldn't quite believe that after nearly seven years in captivity, he was free. But it was a limited freedom. His cage had no bars, but that didn't make it any less of a cage. Even as he walked down the corridors of the elegantly adorn royal palace. He wasn't all that impressed. This was the home of the man who had locked him away from the world after the end of the war. He wasn't eager to meet him, not without having the opportunity to slit his throat and laugh at his corpse. But the guardsmen escorting him didn't look like they were going to let it happen.

"Don't look him directly in the eye." One of the guards told Light. "Kneel before the thrown, and wait to be addressed by the Emperor before speaking."

"That's gonna happen." Light replied bitterly. "As far as I'm concerned he requested my company, and I was gracious enough to accept."

"Watch it!" The other guard warned.

"Or what?" Light snapped. "You guys don't have enough time to rough me up before we get there."

Then he stopped, forcing the two guardsmen to stop with him. He fixed them with a piercing, stare, his eyes lighting like those of a predatory animal. Even though he was unarmed, the guardsmen shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Of course, you're still welcome to try." Light said in low threatening tone.

They stood there in the passage, all staring intently. The guardsmen, though armed and armored, were reluctant to test Light. His combat prowess had been marveled at during the war. That's why everyone had been relieved upon hearing the news of his imprisonment. It was the turning point in the war. With the Akabannin leaderless, Mikami's soldiers had easily overcome them. It had been whispered that even Mikami, a man whose name made fearless men quiver, had been put at ease with word of Yagami's capture.

"We don't have time for this!" A voice called down the hall.

A herald stood near a set of polished silver doors, twenty feet in height and ten feet across. The doors were especially designed so that they would open at the slightest nudge. A masterwork of craftsmanship, and it was to be expected of the Imperial Palace. The herald approached the three men, seeming frustrated and nervous.

"The Emperor will not wait!" The herald snapped at the guardsmen.

The two men eased, Yagami remained on his guard. The herald turned to Light, and addressed him in a calm and respectful manner.

"Please come with me." The herald said. "The Emperor wishes to speak with you."

Light fell in behind the herald, the guardsmen coming behind him. The herald turned to the two other men.

"The Emperor demanded a private meeting." The herald said firmly.

The guards gawked stupidly.

"But he's an enemy of the Empire!" One of the guards protested.

"I will not repeat myself." The herald replied, turning away and leading Light towards the giant doors.

Light turned to the guardsmen as he walked, and gave a shrug, a grin painted across his handsome features. The herald pushed open the massive, silver doors gently and allowed Light to step passed him. Once Light was inside, the herald closed the doors behind him, leaving him alone with the Emperor. The Emperor wasn't sitting in his throne. Instead he stood at the base of the stairs facing it, his back to Light, a potential assassin. Light didn't miss the message behind the Emperor's posture. He was afraid, and his fearlessness irritated Light.

The Emperor's robes were white with gold trim, and no sleeves. His long, white-silver hair was pulled back into a long tail, bound with a golden clasp bearing the Imperial Seal. He had a long, white cape draped about his pale, slender shoulders, which flowed around behind him as he turned to face Light. His pale grey, almost white, eyes fixed on Yagami, dead and unreadable. Light fought not to shift under the Emperor's stare.

"Welcome, Light Yagami," The Emperor said in calm, even tone, "I hope that the first twenty-four hours of your freedom have been pleasant."

Light took a step forward, disappointed when the Emperor did not step back, or his gaze shift. He really wasn't afraid.

"Better than seven years behind bars." Light spat bitterly.

"I can imagine." The Emperor replied, taking a few steps in Light's direction.

"I don't think you can." Light scoffed. "It's something that has to be experienced, in order to be properly understood."

The Emperor stopped in his slow advance. He held his arms out, leaving himself wide open to any attack.

"Are we going to fight over your captivity?" The Emperor asked in his dead tone. "Or are we going to discuss the future?"

"If I had it my way, you wouldn't have a future!" Light snapped. "I'd have you shut away from the world, and forgotten."

"Oblivion, is that what you would desire?" The Emperor asked. "Gone without even a memory to mark your existence in this world? I did no such thing to you. I fact, I had your life spared. All of my advisors demanded your execution."

"Death would have been far more merciful." Light said darkly. "And I think you knew that when you put me away."

The Emperor grinned, and it was the most unsettling thing Light had ever seen.

"Now that we've gotten your ills put aside," The Emperor's voice still lifeless though his mouth was curled, "I have an offer to make you."

"I have my freedom, what more could I want?" Light asked.

"Station." The Emperor replied.

"Station?" Light repeated.

"Mikami has offered to make you his second." The Emperor explained.

"Why would I work with him?" Light asked.

"It's not about working with Mikami." The Emperor said. "It's about doing something for me."

Light took another step forward, his face marked with curiosity.

"A boon?" Light asked, slightly amused.

"An Emperor's boon." The Emperor replied.

"Now I think we have something to discuss." Light said with a grin of his own.

--

Near didn't weigh much more than a heavy travel pack, so it was easy enough for Mello to carry the small boy. Near's head rested against Mello's back, his light breath warming the surface of Mello's black, quilted fencing vest. Near was hot with fever, and his clothes were soaked through with perspiration as his body tried to purge the sickness. He needed a doctor. That much was certain. He might not make it through another night without proper care.

Mello hastened his pace. It wasn't that he cared for Near, far from it actually. It was that he had certain responsibilities as a Guild cadet. First, a dying man, someone very close to him in fact, had told Mello to take the boy back to the Guild. It was as good as a dying wish, and Mello had to uphold it. Second, the Guild had a reputation to maintain, and he wasn't about to tarnish it. And thirdly, there was a lot of money involved. Mello couldn't afford to have the son of the Emperor die while he was the one protecting him. He'd never recover from it. His life would be over. Perhaps even in the literal sense.

Near groaned a little, and Mello was annoyed to find himself glancing over his should and checking on the white haired boy. It was odd really. Somehow, Near appeared to just have a pull. It was one of many things that confused Mello were Near was concerned. He never talked, if in fact he could talk, and he was harmed by direct sunlight. His expression was always unreadable, as though he had no emotions whatsoever. He befriended a pack of wolves, which had come to their rescue. He was being pursued by an unknown party. Just the other night, he made it rain. And then there was the incident in the cave. What had he done? His touch was like fire to the Vile's flesh.

Mello felt Near stir against his back, the young boy's arms tightened slightly about Mello's shoulders. Mello considered breaking into an all out run, but then something caught his attention. There was someone up ahead, sitting against a tree. The person wasn't facing them, so Mello quickly ducked aside and gently slid Near off of him. Mello poked his head out from behind the brush and checked on the man. He hadn't moved. From where he was, Mello could tell that the man was armored, and possibly armed. But there was something odd about the scene, something that he couldn't quite place.

Mello check to make sure the Near was still asleep, and well hidden. Then he stepped out, hand resting on the grip of his sword, and slowly crept up to the sitting man. Mello soon discovered why the man had seemed so odd. It was obvious once he got close enough to detect the foul odor of decay. Once he could see the man, his suspicions were confirmed. The man, a soldier of some kind, had been dead for some time. Do to the amount of decomposition it was certain what had killed him. Mello knelt beside the man, breathing in through his mouth to avoid the smell of rotting flesh.

Tucked in the man's belt was a flint-lock, which looked in good enough condition. Mello reached out and took the weapon, holding it gingerly in his hands, his eyes scanning over its surface. Then he tucked the pistol into his belt and left to retrieve Near. The sun was beginning to go down, the sky changing that blurry palette of warm colors. But the sight wasn't welcome to Mello. The descending night, no cloud cover to trap in the heat, meant a plummeting temperature. This wasn't good, with Near's poor health, and possibly even his life, at stake. Mello hoisted the small boy onto his back again, and resumed their trek. He was silently thankful that Near wasn't awake to see the man's corpse as the passed. Though he wasn't sure why.

--

"The fourth Emperor had always feared death," The Emperor began the tale, "He sought to master it, to conquer it. He desired immortality over all else, forfeiting his throne and his family to achieve this end. So it was that near the end of his time, he gathered together the Seven Sages, and invoked a sacred and terrible rite. He made contact that day."

"Contact with what?" Light asked eagerly.

"The other side," The Emperor answered, "The realms beyond death, and the creatures that held sway over it, like a play thing. The creature that he spoke with was a Shinigami, a death god. And he made a pact with it."

"What were the conditions?" Light asked.

"That no man would ever slay the Emperor." The Emperor replied. "That each Emperor would reign for a predetermined amount of time, before death gods would claim them, and under no circumstances would they die before the end of that time."

"So the Emperor is invincible." Light remarked. "That is quite an offer."

"There is a loophole." The Emperor said suddenly. "There are other spiritual beings besides the Shinigami, other gods that are not bound by the conditions of this pact."

"What gods?" Light asked.

"The spirits of dawn and dusk departed from this world long ago." The Emperor answered. "They left only their laws, and a promise, a promise that they would one day return."

"And they can kill you." Light said flatly.

"Sadly, yes." The Emperor replied. "But there's catch to their reincarnation."

"What?" Light asked.

"They can only return as mortals." The Emperor said, another grin crossing his features. "Which means that they can be killed like any mortal."

"You want to kill the spirits of dawn and dusk?" Light asked, his tone indicating that he didn't believe a word of what he had just heard.

"No, Light Yagami," The Emperor replied, "I want you to kill the spirits of dawn and dusk."

"You want me to slay two gods?" Light asked bluntly.

"Two mortal gods." The Emperor corrected. "And I have a weapon for you."

"You really don't think that I believe any of this for one second, do you?" Light asked. "Be serious Emperor, this story is ludicrous. Granted, it's very creative, and you should consider writing a book. But gods and pacts? Things like that don't happen in real life."

The Emperor held out his hand.

"Take my hand." The Emperor said quietly.

"Take you hand?" Light repeated. "I'm not that way."

"Indulge me, only a moment longer." The Emperor requested.

Light sighed, and then took the smaller man's hand. He hadn't known what to expect, maybe nothing at all, but he certainly hadn't expected what did occur. The creature perched atop the throne was large and gangly, with dark makeup painting its skull-like head, topped with spike hair like the quills of some animal. It wore dark garments, and had black, feathered wings, which draped over Light and the Emperor. Light cried out in surprise and stumbled backward.

"Hey there." The creature said with a grin, baring its razor-like teeth.

The Emperor removed a red apple from his robes and offered it to the creature, which took it, and devoured it in one bite. Light only watched in horror, his mouth hanging open. The Emperor grinned down at the man.

"I can understand that Ryuk has that effect." The Emperor said calmly.

The creature, Ryuk, belched loudly, and patted its stomach.

"But honestly, that dull, shocked expression, doesn't become you." The Emperor said, offering his hand.

Light took the man's pale hand, and lifted himself back his feet. His eyes darted from Ryuk to the Emperor, and back again. Light took a few breaths, slowing his rapidly beating heart, and regaining his composure.

"So, it's all true?" Light asked, though he was certain what the answer would be.

"Every last word." The Emperor replied, no emotion could be detected, as though all this were a regular occurrence, as normal as the sun rising in the morning.

Light watched the creature for another moment, its large, red hued eyes watching him just as intensely. Light looked back to the Emperor.

"Do you have any idea who I'm going after?" Light asked.

The Emperor grinned again, it seemed much colder now, almost causing light to shudder.

"Actually, I do." The Emperor replied lifelessly.

--

Night may have settled, but Near wasn't waking. Mello had begun to worry. The young boy's breath seemed raspy, and labored. His body continued to perspire, and with the rapidly dropping temperature, Mello's mind was plagued with thoughts of potential hypothermia. Mello's pace had slowed with setting fatigue. He hadn't had much sleep in the last few days, and with all the traveling, running, and fighting, his body had been pushed to its physical limits. Near seemed to have gotten heavier, but Mello knew that wasn't the case. But he didn't dare stop to rest. The boy might not live through the night.

Mello pushed through some denser brush, and was immediately greeted with a welcoming sight. It was the trade road, there in all its glory, the very road they had been traveling on before their encounter with the Vile. Mello stepped out onto the road, and glanced down it. In the distance, he spotted lights. Lights meant people, and possibly a town of some kind. Mello broke into a run, Near bouncing gently between his shoulders. Mello ignored the cries of his aching muscles, the pleas of his thumping heart, and the protests of his burning lungs. He pushed forward, mustering every last ounce of strength left in his exhausted body. The lights grew in the distance, but they were still so far away. Mello gritted his teeth, and pressed himself even harder, the boy against his back groaned at the shift in his speed.

The gates of the fort came into along with a ring of high, stone walls. Mello slowed, the gates were closed, and he would have to get someone to open them, and admit him and Near. Mello collapsed, and let Near roll off his back. He tried to rise and move towards the gates, but the moment he had set himself on the ground, all his momentum and energy had left him. He stumbled face first back to the ground. Still determined, he began to crawl, reaching out for the gates. His vision blurred, and began to fade. He reached, and felt the smooth texture of well-worked oak with his fingers. But then his hand fell, and he was unconscious, Near lying a short distance away.

To Be Continued…

Author's Comments

Sorry, I meant to submit this yesterday, but I had a few personal matters to clear up.

Anyway, the 5th chapter is done. I know, it's slightly shorter than the other chapters, and there's a lot of dialogue with really no action. It is important that a few of these things get cleared up though. A story needs a plot.

The next chapter probably won't appear until sometime next week, but you can keep your fingers crossed. The next Chapter is called, The Return. Yes, this means that you will finally get to see the Guild!